The 9th South Lake Forum for International Young Scholars kicked off at Huazhong Agricultural University (HZAU) on Dec 21. The event united 138 young scholars from around the world, both online and offline, to discuss academic issues.

The opening ceremony was presided over by Yang Shaobo, a member of the Standing Committee of the CPC HZAU Committee and vice-president of the university.

In his address, Xu Chao, deputy director of the Wuhan Talent Bureau, expressed his gratitude to young talents from home and abroad who care about the development of HZAU and Wuhan.

Xu Chao expresses gratitude to the young talents. [Photo/news.hzau.edu.cn]

He introduced the values and achievements of HZAU and the environment and talent policies of Wuhan city and Hubei province. He invited young talents to come to Wuhan for innovation and entrepreneurship.

Yan Jianbing, president of HZAU, also introduced the university's basic information and talent policies from various aspects such as its history, campus environment, scale, faculty structure and disciplines.

Yan Jianbing briefs the audience on the basic information of HZAU. [Photo/news.hzau.edu.cn]

Meanwhile, Zhang Xianlong, a professor at HZAU, gave a keynote speech titled "Theory and Practice of Cotton Breeding". He expressed the significance of exchanging ideas with outstanding young talents from home and abroad. He recounted his own journey of innovation and entrepreneurship, praising HZAU for its rigorous academic pursuit and being a place where one can focus on academic research. He hoped to work with young talents to strive tirelessly for talent cultivation and academic development.

Zhang Xianlong describes HZAU as a place where one can focus on academic research. [Photo/news.hzau.edu.cn]

Representing young teachers, Professor Zhang Fei from the College of Horticulture and Forestry Sciences shared his journey from a postdoctoral researcher to an independent Principal Investigator (PI) at a national key laboratory. He emphasized that his success is inseparable from the support and care of the university, college, the National Key Laboratory for Germplasm Innovation & Utilization of Horticultural Crops and the citrus team led by Academician Deng Xiuxin and other relevant teachers.

Zhang Fei shares his academic journey. [Photo/news.hzau.edu.cn]

He praised the rich academic atmosphere and elegant environment of HZAU, highlighting the harmonious teams and diligent students, expressing his willingness to learn from his predecessors.

The forum, spanning two days, includes the opening ceremony, keynote speeches, visits and exchanges, as well as 25 sub-forums across 16 departments.